Atlanta Hawks: The Subtlety of Paul Millsap’s Stardom

First, there are few things as fun to watch as Paul posting up a defender in the mid-post and using a litany of moves to make them look foolish. Just watch this.

It’s gotta be nice as a coach to have that to go-to when you need a bucket.

Coach Bud likes to use Paul a lot at the top of the key, or in the high post. They will use him as a passer, a shooter, and a playmaker. Check out this designed play the Hawks used to start the game against the Grizzlies (Paul’s last before an 8-game absence).

This is out of an action the Spurs have used for years for Tony Parker most commonly known as “Loop”, where Kent Bazemore and Dwight Howard start to set what looks like a double pin-down screen for Dennis Schroder. Then, just as Dennis comes off the first screen, you can see Vince Carter lean to help on him and Kent slips straight to the rim for the layup.

Nothing against Ersan Ilyasova. Personally, I think he has been great for the Hawks since being added to the squad. But, he is not to be relied upon to cut through the defense with a pass like this. Paul’s passing ability is EXACTLY the reason why Coach Bud is able to add this wrinkle to a very common NBA action.

Players are much more likely to cut and cut HARD when they know someone has the ball who can deliver it to them in a tight space. When there is one less passer on the floor, players are less likely to cut. Less cutting = less movement. All of the sudden, an already stagnant offense (ranked 27th in offensive rating on the year), becomes unwatchable at times. In the time that Paul has been out, the Hawks offense is ranked dead last with a whopping 96 points per 100 possessions.

So, Paul’s passing-presence has some immeasurable effect on the overall flow of the offense. But how does it specifically affect some of the other marquee-Hawks? What about Dennis Schröder?